Terrestrial interference correction using spatial beamforming technology

Abstract

Technologies directed to correction of terrestrial interference using spatial signal minimum beamforming are described. One method includes a first communication device with beamforming circuitry receiving an indication of a first direction. The method further includes determining that orienting a main lobe of a first antenna gain pattern along the first direction results in an RF interference condition. The method further includes determining a second antenna gain pattern. The second antenna gain pattern comprises a second main lobe oriented along the second direction. The method further includes determining a third antenna gain pattern of the beamforming circuitry using (i) the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) the second antenna gain pattern. The method further includes receiving a first RF signal with the beamforming circuitry configured with the third antenna gain pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A user terminal (UT), comprising:
 an array antenna; 
 beamforming circuitry coupled to the array antenna; 
 a processing device coupled to the beamforming circuitry, wherein the processing device:
 receives a first RF signal via the beamforming circuitry, wherein the beamforming circuitry is configured with a first antenna gain pattern with a first main lobe oriented along a first direction; 
 determines a radio frequency (RF) interference condition based on the first RF signal, wherein the RF interference condition is associated with an interfering device disposed along a second direction; 
 determines a second antenna gain pattern, wherein the second antenna gain pattern comprises a second main lobe oriented along the second direction; 
 generates first data indicating a set of directions comprising the first direction and a set of coefficients, each coefficient of the set of coefficients being associated with one direction of the set of directions; 
 determines, using the first data, a third antenna gain pattern using a first combination of (i) values of beamforming parameters of the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) values of beamforming parameters of the second antenna gain pattern, wherein the first combination corresponds to the first direction and wherein the third antenna gain pattern maximizes signal reception along the first direction and minimizes signal reception along the second direction; and 
 receives a second RF signal, with the beamforming circuitry configured with the third antenna gain pattern. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The UT of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device further:
 causes the beamforming circuitry to direct the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determines, for each of the set of directions, interference data corresponding to receipt of corresponding RF signals using antenna gain patterns with different complex scaled values of the second antenna gain pattern; and 
 generates, based on the interference data, the set of coefficients. 
 
     
     
       3. The UT of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device further:
 causes the beamforming circuitry to direct the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determines signal strength data associated with receipt of a corresponding RF signal for each direction of the set of directions; and 
 determines the second direction based on the signal strength data. 
 
     
     
       4. A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a first communication device having beamforming circuitry, an indication of a first direction, wherein a second communication device is located along the first direction; 
 determining, by the first communication device, that orienting a first main lobe of a first antenna gain pattern along the first direction results in an RF interference condition associated with a third communication device disposed along a second direction; 
 determining, by the first communication device, a second antenna gain pattern, wherein the second antenna gain pattern comprises a second main lobe oriented along the second direction; 
 determining, by the first communication device, a third antenna gain pattern using (i) the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) the second antenna gain pattern, wherein the third antenna gain pattern maximizes signal reception along the first direction and minimizes signal reception along the second direction; and 
 receiving, by the first communication device, an RF signal with the beamforming circuitry configured with the third antenna gain pattern. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the third antenna gain pattern further comprises:
 generating first data indicating a set of directions comprising the first direction and a set of values corresponding to each of the set of directions wherein the third antenna gain pattern is determined further using the first data. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 causing, by the first communication device, the beamforming circuitry to orient the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determining, by the first communication device for the first direction, first interference data corresponding to receipt of corresponding RF signals using (i) a first value of the first antenna gain pattern with the first main lobe oriented in the first direction and (ii) different complex scaled values of the second antenna gain pattern; 
 determining, by the first communication device for a third direction of the set of directions, second interference data corresponding to receipt of corresponding RF signals using (i) a second value of the first antenna gain pattern with the first main lobe oriented in the second direction and (ii) different complex scaled values of the second antenna gain pattern; and 
 generating, by the first communication device based on the first and the second interference data, the set of values. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the set of directions indicates an elevation angle and an azimuthal angle, each elevation angle and each azimuthal angle of the set of directions being relative to a bearing angle of an array antenna of the first communication device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 causing, by the first communication device, the beamforming circuitry to orient the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determining, by the first communication device, signal strength data associated with receipt of a corresponding RF signal for each direction of the set of directions; and 
 determining, by the first communication device, the second direction based on the signal strength data. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the first RF signal corresponds to a fixed service transmission; and 
 the second communication device comprises an artificial satellite. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a value of the third antenna gain pattern comprises a scaled additive combination of (i) a corresponding value of the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) a corresponding value of the second antenna gain pattern. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the RF interference condition is further associated with a fourth communication device disposed along a third direction, the method further comprising:
 determining, by the first communication device, a fourth antenna gain pattern of the beamforming circuitry, wherein the fourth antenna gain pattern comprises a fourth main lobe oriented along the third direction, wherein the third antenna gain pattern further uses the fourth antenna gain pattern and further minimizes signal reception along the third direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a value of the third antenna gain pattern comprises a scaled additive combination of (i) a corresponding value of the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) a corresponding value of the second antenna gain pattern, and (iii) a corresponding value of the fourth antenna gain pattern. 
     
     
       13. A first communication device, comprising:
 beamforming circuitry coupled to an array antenna; 
 a memory coupled to the beamforming circuitry; and 
 a controller coupled to the beamforming circuitry and the memory, wherein the controller:
 receives an indication of a first direction, wherein a second communication device is located along the first direction; 
 determines that orienting a first main lobe of a first antenna gain pattern along the first direction results in an RF interference condition associated with a third communication device disposed along a second direction; 
 determines a second antenna gain pattern, wherein the second antenna gain pattern comprises a second main lobe oriented along the second direction; 
 determines a third antenna gain pattern using (i) the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) the second antenna gain pattern, wherein the third antenna gain pattern maximizes signal reception along the first direction and minimizes signal reception along the second direction; and 
 receives a first RF signal with the beamforming circuitry configured with the third antenna gain pattern. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The first communication device of  claim 13 , wherein to determine the third antenna gain pattern, the controller further:
 generates first data indicating a set of directions comprising the first direction and a set of values corresponding to each of the set of directions, wherein the third antenna gain pattern is determined further using the first data. 
 
     
     
       15. The first communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further:
 causes the beamforming circuitry to orient the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determines, for the first direction, first interference data corresponding to receipt of corresponding RF signals using antenna gain patterns with different combinations of (i) a first value of the first antenna gain pattern with the first main lobe oriented in the first direction and (ii) different complex scaled values of the second antenna gain pattern; 
 determines, for a third direction of the set of directions, second interference data corresponding to receipt of corresponding RF signals using (i) a second value of the first antenna gain pattern with the first main lobe oriented in the second direction and (ii) complex scaled values of the second antenna gain pattern; and 
 generates, based on the first interference data and the second interference data, the set of values. 
 
     
     
       16. The first communication device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the set of directions indicates an elevation angle and an azimuthal angle, each elevation angle and each azimuthal angle of the set of directions being relative to a bearing angle of the array antenna. 
     
     
       17. The first communication device of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further:
 causes the beamforming circuitry to orient the first main lobe along each of the set of directions; 
 determines signal strength data associated with receipt of a corresponding RF signal for each direction of the set of directions; and 
 determines the second direction based on the signal strength data. 
 
     
     
       18. The first communication device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the first RF signal corresponds to a fixed service transmission; and 
 the second communication device comprises an artificial satellite. 
 
     
     
       19. The first communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the RF interference condition is further associated with a fourth communication device disposed along a third direction, wherein the controller further:
 determines a fourth antenna gain pattern, wherein the fourth antenna gain pattern comprises a fourth main lobe oriented along the third direction, wherein the third antenna gain pattern further uses the fourth antenna gain pattern and further minimizes signal reception along the third direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The first communication device of  claim 19 , wherein a value of the third antenna gain pattern comprises a scaled additive combination of (i) a corresponding value of the first antenna gain pattern and (ii) a corresponding value of the second antenna gain pattern, and (iii) a corresponding value of the fourth antenna gain pattern.